362 BOVINE OBSTETRICS 



Iii my former practice parturient paresis was common. 

 Especially in villages along the Maas, where very fine and 

 heavy milkers were raised in the bottoms, it was the fear of the 

 farmers. It caused such damage that a mutual insurance com- 

 pany especially for milk cows was established. To save as 

 much as possible the animals were slaughtered early, waiting 

 at the same time as long as possible. It sometimes happened 

 that the butcher with the knife in his hand waited for the 

 last breath, when improvement set in suddenly, the cow rising 

 a few hours later. 



One cow suffering with parturient paresis I found on 

 repeated visits to grow worse and worse, expecting death at 

 any moment. Two hours later she stood in her stall, was lively 

 and had some appetite. Nevertheless, such cases are very rare. 

 At the same time they show how quickly nerve poisons are 

 excreted, supposed to play here an important role. 



It happens that cows with parturient paresis show im- 

 provement in 36 to 48 hours, the eyelids open, dysphagia 

 diminishes. The animal drinks when a pail with water is held 

 under the mouth, defecation and micturition return. The 

 general health improves steadily; in the following days it eats 

 and ruminates. Paralysis of the hind legs occasionally dis- 

 appears after two or three days. The cow rises as usual, 

 without showing any disturbances, or sways a little on account 

 of the paresis of certain groups of muscles. The latter involves 

 usually the extensor muscles of one or both hind legs, so that 

 the animal knuckles over a little; this disappears after a while. 

 But there are also cases where the animal apparently re- 

 covered, but cannot rise for days afterwards. Examination of 

 the hind legs shows the thigh and hock of a hind leg swollen 

 and cedematous. From the thigh to the shin-bone the legis 

 twice or three times its ordinary size. The swelling is not 

 painful, it distinctly pits on pressure. The Leg cannot be 

 moved. On post-mortem examination, dry grangrene of the 

 gastrocnemius, biceps, femoris, and semi-tendinous is revealed. 

 Guillebeau and Hess observed two eases of necrosis of the 

 deep tibial muscles. In all probability it is the saint! condition 



